Wow! What a huge project! The more information I find on Canadian pottery & ceramics, the more fascinated I become. A friend collects West German mid-century pottery, specifically lava glazes, and he has pointed out similarities in glazes and treatments to Canadian pottery. It is interesting to research the potters as well as the potteries, the materials, and the glazes. Of course, this means having physical tactile contact with the pieces produced by Canadian potteries. To that end, I have become a 'diverse collector' of Canadian pieces. I'm hoping to have pictures to post in the photo gallery soon. Watch for that.
And when I have more minutes than I do at the moment, I will discuss some of the research I have conducted that has lead me to become a Canadian pottery collector.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Booth #14 at Years Left in 'Em
It has been over a year since I opened my booth at Years Left in Em, the mini antique mall in Innisfail, Alberta. I have enjoyed the experience of selling my collectibles in a retail space. And I have gained experience in collecting – learning the art of selecting product, display, researching information, pricing trends, etc. The owners have become more than friendly acquaintances, providing advice on what products seem to sell better in what seasons, etc.
Lately, however, I’ve been entertaining ambivalent feelings towards continuing with the rental of my booth space. As much as I’ve enjoyed the experience, rental costs for the year, plus the commission taken off the top, have far exceeded my sales. In only one month out of the last twelve have I made a profit over the booth costs, but even then, not enough to cover the item costs.
So how do you judge when is enough? Do I look at moving my collectibles to a new location in a larger city? With my busy schedule, it is hard enough to find time to select, inventory, price, deliver, display, clean, etc. product for the Innisfail booth, the most local antiques mall available to me. How will I find the time to do these same things at a location farther away?
Stock turn-over is key – and I have fallen a little short in that department. I have not been able to keep up with the ‘chores’ that go with managing my booth. I do very much enjoy buying, researching, selling antiques, vintage finds, collectibles. I do not take enough time to manage my space effectively. And I’m finding it has moved down on my list of ‘must do’ things each week. I have not yet carved a permanent time in my schedule for this. And I know that has affected my sales.
I’m learning a lot about what sells and what doesn’t. I’m learning about what items people are collecting. I’m learning about effective displays and how to pack the most items into the little space I have for display. So, is learning enough of a reason to keep on going? This learning experience is costing me a minimum of $1200.00/year.
Where is the balance between learning experience and cost analysis? It is a business after all – one that I am enjoying immensely, but that I’m also losing money on.
I’ve decided to reevaluate cost effectiveness in October 2011, at the 2nd anniversary of my mini-business. Let’s see what comes of that…
Originally posted: December, 2010.
Lately, however, I’ve been entertaining ambivalent feelings towards continuing with the rental of my booth space. As much as I’ve enjoyed the experience, rental costs for the year, plus the commission taken off the top, have far exceeded my sales. In only one month out of the last twelve have I made a profit over the booth costs, but even then, not enough to cover the item costs.
So how do you judge when is enough? Do I look at moving my collectibles to a new location in a larger city? With my busy schedule, it is hard enough to find time to select, inventory, price, deliver, display, clean, etc. product for the Innisfail booth, the most local antiques mall available to me. How will I find the time to do these same things at a location farther away?
Stock turn-over is key – and I have fallen a little short in that department. I have not been able to keep up with the ‘chores’ that go with managing my booth. I do very much enjoy buying, researching, selling antiques, vintage finds, collectibles. I do not take enough time to manage my space effectively. And I’m finding it has moved down on my list of ‘must do’ things each week. I have not yet carved a permanent time in my schedule for this. And I know that has affected my sales.
I’m learning a lot about what sells and what doesn’t. I’m learning about what items people are collecting. I’m learning about effective displays and how to pack the most items into the little space I have for display. So, is learning enough of a reason to keep on going? This learning experience is costing me a minimum of $1200.00/year.
Where is the balance between learning experience and cost analysis? It is a business after all – one that I am enjoying immensely, but that I’m also losing money on.
I’ve decided to reevaluate cost effectiveness in October 2011, at the 2nd anniversary of my mini-business. Let’s see what comes of that…
Originally posted: December, 2010.
Collector or Hoarder?
There is a telelvision show called ‘Hoarders’ my sister likes to watch, and lately the question has come up – When does a Collector become a Hoader? Actually, it was my husband and my sister that began the discussion. About me, I think…
I’ve been collecting for many years from farm sales, garage & yard sales, flea markets, Salvation Army stores (Sally Ann) and Value Village (the V.V. Boutique). I love to find items at a ‘good’ price when I know the value is more. To me, it is a treasure hunt. I’ve found some really great things over the years.
But, there is no room in a normal home for the items a diverse collector collects. So where do you put everything? How do you organize your stuff? How do you inventory all those items? Research them. Place a value on them. Sell them…
I’ve opened a small booth in a local Antiques Mini-mall hoping to sell off some of the items I’ve collected over the years. And what I’ve found is that a seller needs diverse and eclectic merchandise in one’s booth. So I’ve been hunting in the usual haunts for a different kind of merchandise. After all, pottery and ceramics, vintage prints and lace just doesn’t cut it for display and sale items in an antiques booth anymore.
I’m collecting more than ever – glass and ceramics and prints and vintage clothing and textiles; BMP and West German mid-century pottery, folk art and handmade wooden items. TV lamps from the 50′s & 60′s are a good buy… and on and on. I love it!! The finds and the research and the valuations.
So back to the debate…When does a collector become a hoarder? My sister says when you can’t keep your house clean. My husband says ‘last year…’
I’ve decided that I need to balance my passion for collecting with practicality – what can I easily manage in the little time that I have to indulge my passion for collecting? As tempting as the treasure hunt is, I must keep it to a manageable level – manageable in time and in the physical space I have in my home that I can call my own, where it does not interfere with the free movement necessary for everday life.
I guess one of my personal goals will be to find the balance …
(a hoarder I could never be)
I’ve been collecting for many years from farm sales, garage & yard sales, flea markets, Salvation Army stores (Sally Ann) and Value Village (the V.V. Boutique). I love to find items at a ‘good’ price when I know the value is more. To me, it is a treasure hunt. I’ve found some really great things over the years.
But, there is no room in a normal home for the items a diverse collector collects. So where do you put everything? How do you organize your stuff? How do you inventory all those items? Research them. Place a value on them. Sell them…
I’ve opened a small booth in a local Antiques Mini-mall hoping to sell off some of the items I’ve collected over the years. And what I’ve found is that a seller needs diverse and eclectic merchandise in one’s booth. So I’ve been hunting in the usual haunts for a different kind of merchandise. After all, pottery and ceramics, vintage prints and lace just doesn’t cut it for display and sale items in an antiques booth anymore.
I’m collecting more than ever – glass and ceramics and prints and vintage clothing and textiles; BMP and West German mid-century pottery, folk art and handmade wooden items. TV lamps from the 50′s & 60′s are a good buy… and on and on. I love it!! The finds and the research and the valuations.
So back to the debate…When does a collector become a hoarder? My sister says when you can’t keep your house clean. My husband says ‘last year…’
I’ve decided that I need to balance my passion for collecting with practicality – what can I easily manage in the little time that I have to indulge my passion for collecting? As tempting as the treasure hunt is, I must keep it to a manageable level – manageable in time and in the physical space I have in my home that I can call my own, where it does not interfere with the free movement necessary for everday life.
I guess one of my personal goals will be to find the balance …
(a hoarder I could never be)
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